consent of the governed

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev was promoting glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (“restructuring”) in an attempt to overcome the Soviet Union’s economic stagnation and stunted growth. These initiatives promised the “utmost respect for the individual citizen and favorable consideration for protecting one’s personal dignity.” By creating … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: The fall of the Soviet Union was a vindication for the strategy of the first civilian Director of Central Intelligence, Allen Dulles. His plan to bankrupt the Russians through an arms race, a space race, and any other competition the adversary could not afford, … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Way back in 2005, The New York Times used the expression “gesture politics” to describe the substitution of symbols and empty promises for policy. Today, gestures towards bipartisanship and voting integrity together with a feigned respect for the United States constitution ring hollow. The … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Edmond Burke is best known for the quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” He was also the first and, some would say, the best advocate of conservatism. He held that rulers are only … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: The United Nations currently lists 18 “Global Issues.” Among the many are poverty, hunger, water, and health. Poverty-stricken communities are not only disrespected, they are often disregarded due to their low socio-economic status. This occurs even within affluent countries. However, according to the World … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: <<AUDIO Part 1 (Ten Seconds): The Chair recognizes, , , Senator Smith>> There was a time when, if you were to express an opinion in writing, it would likely be over your own signature. In fact, sending an unsigned letter was widely considered an … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: The first time the Supreme Court apparently held that the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause granted constitutional protections to corporations, as well as to natural citizens, was through the 1886 Supreme Court case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Co. A headnote issued … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Every once in awhile we take in a scene that speaks volumes. For example, at the height of the pandemic, passers by could write long dissertations on depraved heart indifference, as inspired by the folks filing out of church services without a mask among … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: As they were breaking Jim out of jail, Tom Sawyer tells Huck Finn that “Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better.” The number of videos gone viral, depicting … Read more

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: From an early age we are admonished to “Never judge a book by its cover.” As we begin to pay attention to our participatory democracy, we quickly learn that any initiative named by a politician cannot be accepted at face value. Throughout history, we’ve … Read more